Government update on the long term future of the Grenfell Tower site

A community-led memorial commission is to be set up which will decide on the most fitting and appropriate way to remember those who lost their lives in the Grenfell tragedy.

The community-led Commission will be made up of representatives of the bereaved, survivors and Lancaster West estate – together with relevant public authorities, seeking the views of the local North Kensington area through its consultation process.

The Commission will develop a proposal for what happens to the Grenfell Tower site in the future, and decide how the memorial site will be owned and managed in the long term.

Its work is expected to take a minimum of a year, after which it will publish a report setting out its findings.

Over the coming months the community will be asked to nominate their representatives and an independent chairperson will also be confirmed.

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced on 12 September that it is gifting a seedling from the Survivor Tree to the Grenfell community. The seedling has been grown from a tree that was badly damaged in the 9/11 terror attacks and survived.

Every year on 12 September, the Memorial & Museum donates seedlings from the tree to communities that have faced and overcome tragedies.

No decision has yet been taken on where the seedling will be planted, but it could form part of the longer term Grenfell memorial and be included and considered alongside any design proposals for the site, if this is the community’s wish.